Rider Switch changing (Started June 16th)

[LongLiveRafiki]

Currently they just take the paper ticket at the merge point. I've never seen anyone documenting how many people are using it or anything. No scanning. I've always done it by myself though, so maybe they take note if you have multiple people, but I doubt it.

My only concern about the digital part is that it may end up causing bottlenecks at the tapstiles for everyone.

I think that concern is valid. The biggest reason we never brought our little one up when the first group got the rider swap is that, especially for certain rides, there just isn't a ton of room to bring a stroller and people who aren't riding right then. If they need to scan everyone's band and add the RS onto them, I would imagine that could take a little bit of time.

The reason I was asking about the scanning and documenting of RS currently is I'm trying to understand how Disney would even know when people are using RS if the tickets aren't being scanned or the number of people using each pass documented. I completely understand wanting to go digital and eliminate passes being sold. In regards to the 1 hr return limit and 1 pass out at a time, some people referenced Disney must have noticed that some people hold onto and use them later in the day. I'm curious as to how they would even know this?

Not in any way trying to argue the new changes, just wanting to understand the reasoning and motivation behind them.

 

[OSUZorba]

I think that concern is valid. The biggest reason we never brought our little one up when the first group got the rider swap is that, especially for certain rides, there just isn't a ton of room to bring a stroller and people who aren't riding right then. If they need to scan everyone's band and add the RS onto them, I would imagine that could take a little bit of time.

The reason I was asking about the scanning and documenting of RS currently is I'm trying to understand how Disney would even know when people are using RS if the tickets aren't being scanned or the number of people using each pass documented. I completely understand wanting to go digital and eliminate passes being sold. In regards to the 1 hr return limit and 1 pass out at a time, some people referenced Disney must have noticed that some people hold onto and use them later in the day. I'm curious as to how they would even know this?

Not in any way trying to argue the new changes, just wanting to understand the reasoning and motivation behind them.

Yeah, I always try to stand back with DD, some hosts make you come all the way up but most let you just show the baby from a distance.

I really don't think they closely track the RS returns, just like they don't closely track FP wait times, at least not like they do standby. I know I was a collector of RS passes, usually because we wanted to do something together as opposed to staying split up (or had to get to an ADR or FP) and figured I'd come back later. I've always come home with a stack of them, including FoP, TT and SM from my last trip. Never sold or given any away, and I like that the digital system should stop that. Probably the biggest way they would know that people are collecting them, is that they run out of tickets.

 

[jo-jo]

To get the ride swap, will the CM have to see the child (like now from a short distance)and just be handed a MB or does the MB have to be on the person? My DGS age 28 month ,who didn't need a ticket, still felt he had to tap even when he wasn't even wearing a magic band. Everyone else tapped so he was going to do it too. Next trip when he does have a ticket, I think he is not going to be happy to wait, tap his magic band and then not be able to go on the ride.

 

[OSUZorba]

To get the ride swap, will the CM have to see the child (like now from a short distance)and just be handed a MB or does the MB have to be on the person? My DGS age 28 month ,who didn't need a ticket, still felt he had to tap even when he wasn't even wearing a magic band. Everyone else tapped so he was going to do it too. Next trip when he does have a ticket, I think he is not going to be happy to wait, tap his magic band and then not be able to go on the ride.

My DD did the same thing when she was 18 months, a lot of the CMs played along, which was nice. But I don't think the non-riding kid will have to tap in this system, only the riding persons.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Grandma (pa?) didn't want to be left at home with the kids while everyone else went on vacation?

Lol, no. Its actually grandma (me) footing the bill for all of us to go. Of course, my sons and daughter in law didn't even have to think about it when I asked if they wanted to go on an all expense paid trip to Disney. No, I'm not rich. I'm as poor as the next person. But we don't do birthdays each year, we don't buy gifts for holidays (except xmas), and I never bought my kids excessive toys. I always just save it up and take everyone on a trip somewhere each year. My kids got far more "education" from traveling and seeing other states than any Einstein toy could have ever taught them.

 

[danikoski]

This is going to be interesting. My guess is the change is related to TSL and SWGE opening. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised that some things will change with what is currently proposed.
I wish they could add RS to the band and then the family be able to modify the return time in MDE. That would add flexibility that seems to be the main complaint. Even better would be to allow people to register there small rider in MDE, attest to their inability to ride a ride, and schedule rider swaps like FP. If Disney's whole thing is creating line control, this would give the clearest view on that. It'd also allow planning flexibility for families.
Luckily, we aren't planning to go back until June 2019, so hopefully they have some kinks worked out by then. We will also luck out that we will have other family members who can sit with our little guy.

 

[dlavender]

I agree that this is the reason. Disney wants to control the FP lines. I truly doubt that rider swap passes were messing up the flow of line, but obviously Disney has those numbers and I don't. I'm really just upset that this will put those who need to use rider swap at a distinct disadvantage when the new lands open. My family most often stays off site and therefore cannot get coveted fastpasses. We rely on rope drop strategies and if we must budget in time to ride twice back to back, it greatly diminishes our ability to ride both rides in the land with relatively low wait.

I honestly believe this is the motivation for the change.

As I believe they are looking more and more into monetizing FP, they are making it harder for those of us who stay off site to make the system work.

We tour like you mention, rope drop, get rider switch pass, circle back later so the other parent can ride with the taller kids and have that experience together.

Riding back to back will diminish the experience.

I think WDW is hoping that changes like this push people on site or push people to pay for extras like EMM to accomplish what we used to be able to accomplish.

I'm extra salty today, but just my .02

 

[jo-jo]

My DD did the same thing when she was 18 months, a lot of the CMs played along, which was nice. But I don't think the non-riding kid will have to tap in this system, only the riding persons.

The year before he was fist bumping the resort door expecting them to open. LOL

But there is talk of everyone in the party needing a FP. In our case, we could have a short kid and grandpa , who wouldn't/couldn't ride say space mountain, but yet Grandpa isn't up to watching a three year on his own. So there are two FP not being used for the ride.

 

[DizneyMommy]

I do have to wonder what affect this will have on SDFP’s. If they are going to take FP out of the pool or count these RS spots in that equation, I wonder if it will be harder to get the SDFP but the FP line will move quicker because they have more control over the numbers in it. I know people have said RS is a drop in the bucket but no one really knows the numbers here.

 

[OSUZorba]

I honestly believe this is the motivation for the change.

As I believe they are looking more and more into monetizing FP, they are making it harder for those of us who stay off site to make the system work.

We tour like you mention, rope drop, get rider switch pass, circle back later so the other parent can ride with the taller kids and have that experience together.

Riding back to back will diminish the experience.

I think WDW is hoping that changes like this push people on site or push people to pay for extras like EMM to accomplish what we used to be able to accomplish.

I'm extra salty today, but just my .02

This is my thinking too. They are tightening everything up so it will be easier to monetize. /Tinfoil hat

 

[OSUZorba]

The year before he was fist bumping the resort door expecting them to open. LOL

But there is talk of everyone in the party needing a FP. In our case, we could have a short kid and grandpa , who wouldn't/couldn't ride say space mountain, but yet Grandpa isn't up to watching a three year on his own. So there are two FP not being used for the ride.

I think by party, they only mean those that plan to ride. So Grandpa and shorty could have a FP to something else, but the other hold back would have to scan. This becomes a problem if grandpa can't handle shorty by himself on another ride though.

I do have to wonder what affect this will have on SDFP’s. If they are going to take FP out of the pool or count these RS spots in that equation, I wonder if it will be harder to get the SDFP but the FP line will move quicker because they have more control over the numbers in it. I know people have said RS is a drop in the bucket but no one really knows the numbers here.

The conspiracy part of me thinks this will likely come out of SDFP and they won't increase the numbers available, since I think this is an attempt to further monetize the system. Although I doubt RSes are making a big difference in FP wait times, it might be a noticeable hit to the SDFP pool, especially since the rides in question generally have low SD availability anyways.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This is my thinking too. They are tightening everything up so it will be easier to monetize. /Tinfoil hat

well, yeah, they see other people making money by selling rider swap tickets on ebay, they have to be thinking, "wait, how can we be the ones making money off of that?!?!?!?

And they did sort of to that with the tour they added to Animal Kingdom which is sort of like paying for a fast pass to Flight of Passage - I suspect similar will happen when Galaxy's Edge opens

 

[danikoski]

well, yeah, they see other people making money by selling rider swap tickets on ebay, they have to be thinking, "wait, how can we be the ones making money off of that?!?!?!?

And they did sort of to that with the tour they added to Animal Kingdom which is sort of like paying for a fast pass to Flight of Passage - I suspect similar will happen when Galaxy's Edge opens

There will definitely be up charge tours in SWGE like the one for AKL. I don't think there is any doubt on that...the only question is how much will it cost?

Next thing is when do they upcharge RS? I would hope they wouldn't, but I also know they like those upsells. Or they offer a toddler ticket package that comes with schedulable RS.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There will definitely be up charge tours in SWGE like the one for AKL. I don't think there is any doubt on that...the only question is how much will it cost?

Next thing is when do they upcharge RS? I would hope they wouldn't, but I also know they like those upsells. Or they offer a toddler ticket package that comes with schedulable RS.

I'm not sure I could see them monetizing RS. They could do away with the program though it's a way to incentivize traveling parties to come to Disney now as opposed to waiting until the child(ren) is/are tall enough.

Monetizing FP? Sure I could see that but RS I don't know that they would shoot themselves in the foot that badly. Obviously speculating though.

 

[DisFanDad]

Just don't see how the return window is connected to trying to remove the abuse of / reselling of rider swaps. It isn't.

Fine make us all go up and scan bands to get rider swap (its inconvenient and its going to create a CRAP SHOW at the front of lines, and slow things down, but fine)

Fine make the service digital, instead of paper, I get bands for free anyway so, whatever I can't pass it on to people now, which used to brighten their day and make us feel good on our departure days, but ... fine.

But why make it so you have to ride back to back, or can only have 1 on your band at a time ? This is going to really limit the usefulness of this service, and in many cases make it useless.

On our recent trip we had FPs for Flight of Passage, we have a 1.5 year old. So our friend and I rode while my wife waited with our friend's little one and ours .... it took 55 minutes to ride with FPs. By that time, our little guy needed to go, her little one needed some food, there was just no way we could wait another hour while she rode it.

 

[katriscari]

My scenario is this, so explain to me how this would work...all I really care about is that my husband can ride with my older son, 9 years old, and I can ride with my older son after that. I also have an almost 2 year old as well.

If we all 3 have FP+ for RNR, my husband rides with my son first while I stay with my little guy. Do we get the rider switch for my older son to be able to come back on the ride with me?

That is all I care about. Electronic or paper doesn't matter to me, but I would prefer not to have my husband or myself constantly riding alone when we all book the same FP+ attractions.

 

[dlavender]

My scenario is this, so explain to me how this would work...all I really care about is that my husband can ride with my older son, 9 years old, and I can ride with my older son after that. I also have an almost 2 year old as well.

If we all 3 have FP+ for RNR, my husband rides with my son first while I stay with my little guy. Do we get the rider switch for my older son to be able to come back on the ride with me?

That is all I care about. Electronic or paper doesn't matter to me, but I would prefer not to have my husband or myself constantly riding alone when we all book the same FP+ attractions.

Yes, you will get the rider switch pass so that your son can ride with the other parent a second time.

 

[dlavender]

Just don't see how the return window is connected to trying to remove the abuse of / reselling of rider swaps. It isn't.

Fine make us all go up and scan bands to get rider swap (its inconvenient and its going to create a CRAP SHOW at the front of lines, and slow things down, but fine)

Fine make the service digital, instead of paper, I get bands for free anyway so, whatever I can't pass it on to people now, which used to brighten their day and make us feel good on our departure days, but ... fine.

But why make it so you have to ride back to back, or can only have 1 on your band at a time ? This is going to really limit the usefulness of this service, and in many cases make it useless.

On our recent trip we had FPs for Flight of Passage, we have a 1.5 year old. So our friend and I rode while my wife waited with our friend's little one and ours .... it took 55 minutes to ride with FPs. By that time, our little guy needed to go, her little one needed some food, there was just no way we could wait another hour while she rode it.

They also already are limiting it to just one at a time. So the 1 hour rule really is just to discourage the use of it, IMO.

FOP is the worst for this. Takes us at least 35-45 mins to get all the way off the ride. Back to back can put you at 90 mins. Lord help if you want to schedule a FP so your little one could at least ride the Navi Small World while waiting. The Dis hammer will come down on you for that "extra" FP use!

 

[katriscari]

Yes, you will get the rider switch pass so that your son can ride with the other parent a second time.

I could make this work then. We do not ride any ride with a long standby line just for the little one, so as long is my older one is happy, my little guy is none the wiser just running around or playing most of the time. We take him on rides with short standby lines when we can all ride together, but they are not absolutely essential.

 

[WillowRain]

They already monetized FP at Disneyland. And now that they know that they can, you bet they will have an upcharge service at WDW in the future.

To get the ride swap, will the CM have to see the child (like now from a short distance)and just be handed a MB or does the MB have to be on the person? My DGS age 28 month ,who didn't need a ticket, still felt he had to tap even when he wasn't even wearing a magic band. Everyone else tapped so he was going to do it too. Next trip when he does have a ticket, I think he is not going to be happy to wait, tap his magic band and then not be able to go on the ride.

No, only riders going on the ride will need the FP to obtain the swap. You all scan in, they add the swap back on to 2 or 3 of your bands. It's really simple.

My scenario is this, so explain to me how this would work...all I really care about is that my husband can ride with my older son, 9 years old, and I can ride with my older son after that. I also have an almost 2 year old as well.

If we all 3 have FP+ for RNR, my husband rides with my son first while I stay with my little guy. Do we get the rider switch for my older son to be able to come back on the ride with me?

That is all I care about. Electronic or paper doesn't matter to me, but I would prefer not to have my husband or myself constantly riding alone when we all book the same FP+ attractions.

Yes, they will add swap to yours and sons band.